Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-06

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't presses PASOK over Siemens

[02] Papandreou: 5 initiatives for Siemens furor

[03] Minister's reply to Siemens row

[01] Gov't presses PASOK over Siemens

"The truth needs courage," Roussopoulos stressed, calling on the main opposition to say "what deal (this money) sealed and what down payment it served".

He was referring to revelations that Siemens had made arrangements for one million D-marks to be given to the party as a campaign contribution prior to the April 2000 elections, going through high-ranking PASOK cadre Theodoros Tsoukatos -- then a senior advisor to prime minister Costas Simitis. The party has denied ever receiving the funds, saying it has no record of such a donation, while Tsoukatos vociferously denies taking the money and says that he made arrangements for its transfer into PASOK treasury via a bank account of an acquaintance, and in instalments via cash deliveries.

The spokesman went on to say that Papandreou was asking for things already announced on Thursday, which was the order given by the government to mobilise the special audits service in the affair, while also pointing out that Papandreou had turned down the prime minister's proposal for a cross-party committee to look into issues of transparency and party finances last Friday.

"Nobody forgets PASOK's blank page during the revision of the relevant article of the Constitution. With his statement today, Mr. Papandreou did not address the citizens, he was trying to regain power within PASOK," Roussopoulos charged.

He also called on the one-time foreign minister in two Simitis governments to participate in a cross-party committee and to stop violently attacking the justice system every time it reveals evidence against PASOK. According to the spokesman, the main opposition's claims about "delays" in the case concerning trial-fixing and judicial corruption had been triumphantly disproved by the facts, as they would be in the case under investigation at this time.

Caption: An ANA-MPA exterior view of the prime minister's official office in Athens, known as the Maximos Mansion.

[02] Papandreou: 5 initiatives for Siemens furor

The main opposition leader once again attacked the government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis over its handling of the affair, while he accused Karamanlis of being "weak-willed" and a "hostage to interests" and held him responsible for what he claimed was an attempted cover up.

He also commented on the part of Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis and the revelations placing the minister in the same hotel abroad as Siemens CEO Mihalis Christoforakos about three years earlier, claiming that Liapis was in an untenable position given that the company had been contending to win public-sector contracts in sectors that Liapis, who was then minister for transport, had been in charge of.

The other PASOK proposals announced by Papandreou included that the government take legal action against Siemens to seek compensation; that state services, such as the finance ministry's Special Audits Service, be mobilised; that the independent authority against money-laundering headed by George Zorbas be activated; and that companies which admitted to paying kickbacks in order to win contracts should not longer qualify for state procurement contracts.

PASOK's president stressed also, that responsibility in the affair did not only concern those that were directly involved but also those that attempted to cover up the truth.

Caption: Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou addressing the Socialist International Congress held in Athens earlier this week, where he was re-elected SI President. (ANA-MPA/STR)

[03] Minister's reply to Siemens row

"Over the last few days I have been experiencing a relentless attack. Waves of mud; slander with no bounds, just because I went with my son, just like thousands of other Greeks did, to see our national team; a private trip at my own expense. A major issue for some, a major hypocrisy as far as I am concerned. Is this the issue that concerns the Greek people? A trip by the minister?" he said, while asking: "who is behind this attack."

He also dismissed charges of mismanagement at the Hellenic Railways Organisation and the telephone utility (OTE) during his tenure as transport minister, reiterating that his had no involvement in the latter two entities' management.

The minister further said that the aim in the attacks against him is to disorientate the public opinion in order to create confusion and to conceal the real culprits, as he said, and to harm the government.

Speaking at the culture ministry, he also ruled out any thoughts of resigning.

PASOK response

In statements afterwards, a PASOK spokesman said Liapis remained exposed on the issue, adding that he is avoiding taking political responsibility.

Spokesman George Papaconstantinou also referred to "shadowy relations" between a minister and business interests.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis.

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